FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT HAT TRICK - PAGE 4

LANDOVER -- The Ottawa Senators didn't know what they were flying into. They knew about the near-30 inches of snow engulfing the area. They knew about the reports that another snowstorm was on its way.What they didn't count on was being snowed under by newly named All-Star Peter Bondra and his line mates Michal Pivonka and Keith Jones, who produced 15 points to beat the Ottawa Senators, 6-1, before a sparse crowd at USAir Arena.Bondra came on like an avalanche, producing a hat trick and two assists to tie his career high for points in one game.

LANDOVER -- The Washington Capitals had hoped to get off fast and set a tone as the second half of the NHL season began. Last night's game with the Florida Panthers might have set a tone, but the 5-4 loss was not what the Capitals had in mind.The Caps overcame four Florida power-play goals to tie the game with 7:31 to go, but could not stop Florida left wing John Garpenlov, who scored at even strength with 55.4 seconds to play.Washington should have double-teamed the guy, no doubt about that.

Providence proved to be the perfect remedy for an angry Maryland men's lacrosse team. The No. 5 Terps, still seething from an eight-goal loss to No. 2 Duke on Saturday, took out their frustration on the visiting Friars and won in convincing fashion, 13-5, at Ludwig Field yesterday. Maryland (3-1) scored the game's first eight goals, and nine different players scored. "We definitely wanted to put that loss behind us and move on," freshman defenseman Max Schmidt said of the 15-7 setback to the Blue Devils.

By Mike Frainie and Mike Frainie,SPECIAL TO THE SUN | January 10, 2004

LAUREL - DeMatha senior Chris Chambers remembers what it felt like watching Mount St. Joseph celebrate after the Gaels defeated his Stags last February to win the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League championship. Yesterday, he got even. Chambers had a hat trick - including the game-winner - to lead DeMatha over the Gaels, 5-3, at the Gardens Ice House. The game was another in the series between the two rivals. Either Mount St. Joseph (five titles) or DeMatha (eight titles) has won the MSHL Tier I title every year except one since the 1989-90 season.

Too bad the Spirit can't pack up the Baltimore Arena and take it on the road.Still saddled with the worst record in the NPSL (5-16) after its 12-6 victory over the Harrisburg Heat last night, the club continues to put on its best showings at home, all of its wins having been registered here.Bo Vuckovic and Mirko Castillo were the big guns for the Spirit last night, Vuckovic recording his fifth hat trick of the season and Castillo contributing a pair of two-pointers.Just as important was the work of Khalil Azmi in goal.

LANDOVER -- Washington right wing Peter Bondra roared out of a four-game goal-less streak with four goals and two assists, including the one on the game-winner by Michal Pivonka with 1:21 gone in overtime, as he led the Capitals back from a three-goal deficit to a 6-5 victory over the New York Islanders last night.It was one of the most entertaining games of the season and a sellout crowd of 18,130 was at the USAir Arena to see it."Of course this is something you dream about," Bondra said.

After the Bandits failed on a couple of early power-play tries and longtime Baltimore nemesis Mitch Lamoureux scored for Providence midway through the first period, it looked as if it would be a long night for the home team and the second-largest crowd of the season (7,058).Baltimore's record at the Arena (10-16-4 entering) didn't appear to be cause for overwhelming confidence, either.Then the Bandits began to roll. Denny Lambert tied the game 82 seconds later, linemates Slava Butsayev and Steve King setting him up. Lambert scored later in the period and the teams left the ice at 2-2.The Butsayev line was just getting warmed up on the way to the Bandits' 7-4 victory.

The Blast's track record this season when a player registers a hat trick is perfect. When veteran midfielder Denison Cabral scored three quick goals in the first quarter against the faltering Philadelphia KiXX Friday night, the question was whether the Blast would make it eight wins with eight hat tricks. The KiXX made a fourth-quarter surge, but it proved too little, too late, as the Blast came away with a 12-8 win in front of an announced 5,324 at 1st Mariner Arena. With the Blast leading, 10-4, at the start of the fourth quarter, the KiXX got two quick two-point goals to cut the lead to 10-8, but Blast forward Max Ferdinand answered with a goal and the home team's defense did the rest for its fourth straight victory.